Method of disposal of cyanobacteria in stagnant waters and equipment for its implementation

ABSTRACT

An equipment for disposal of cyanobacteria in stagnant waters has a float structure, to which two types of bipolar electrodes ( 1  and  6 ) are mounted under the surface of water, interconnected and supplied with electric direct current via an alternator ( 10 ). The equipment comprises a supporting float ( 5 ) having the shape of a hollow body, in which there is a transversely positioned rib ( 4 ) with an attached suspended electrode ( 1 ), interconnected to supplies of photovoltaic cells ( 8 ) and alternator ( 10 ), fixed on the rib ( 4 ) there is the device ( 9 ) for utilizing wind power, connected to an alternator ( 10 ), driving the water pump ( 2 ), which is placed in the delivery pipe ( 3 ) and is connected directly to the axis of the device ( 9 ), for utilization of wind power. Fixed on the supporting float ( 5 ) there is the upper float ( 7 ) with the anchored grid electrode ( 6 ) and with the stored photovoltaic cells ( 8 ), interconnected with the electrodes ( 1 ) and ( 6 ). The delivery pipe ( 3 ) is connected to the water pump ( 2 ), and the outlet of the delivery pipe ( 3 ) is positioned directly above the suspended electrode ( 1 ). The upper float ( 7 ) copies the shape of the supporting float ( 5 ) and is made of a dielectric, light, floating material. The method of disposal of cyanobacteria in stagnant waters is based on quatrolytic disposal of cyanobacteria by the electroflotation method, by means of the above-mentioned equipment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national stage entry of PCT/SK2013/000003 filedMar. 14, 2013, under the International Convention claiming priority overSlovakia Application No. PUV 48-2012 filed Mar. 16, 2012.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical solution relates to a method of disposal of cyanobacteriain stagnant waters of lakes and dams by using a quatrolytic method andequipment intended for their disposal.

BACKGROUND ART

The overabundance of cyanobacteria and of algae in stagnant waters,known as eutrophication of water, is a worldwide problem, especiallybecause of the fact that vegetative secretions of cyanobacteria aretoxic.

Currently, cyanobacteria in stagnant waters of lakes and dams aredisposed of by means of biomechanical equipment using float structures,built on the principles of biological reduction of phosphorus andnitrogen in water by cultivating special aquatic plants. Thedisadvantages of these devices are low efficiency, requirement of takingcare of plant growth and limitations due to the vegetation period ofplants—E 10822, WO2009030977 (A2).

Also known are facilities for mechanical disposal of cyanobacteria, onthe principle of dredging the bottom of water reservoirs from theirbanks, or by using water-born dredgers. This technology is expensive andhas only a short-term effect because reproduction of cyanobacteria isdependent on the content of phosphorus and nitrogen in water, which arenot eliminated by these devices—FR20000000046, FR2791947 (A3).

Also used are technologies on chemical or biological principles, bymeans of equipment on the principle of dispensers—WO9938810 (A1).However, disposal of cyanobacteria by chemical treatment of waterdestroys biological life in the water in its entirety, thus alsoaffecting macrological forms of life. The most common way of limitingthe growth of cyanobacteria in water reservoirs is the application oftoxic substances for cyanobacteria and algae—the use of algicidal oralgistatic substances. Although the advantages of this method are itsrelatively easy application and low time consumption, it is not possibleto determine in advance, whether such intervention will be effective,environmentally friendly and economically advantageous.

Devouring of cyanobacteria by natural predators is rare and isrestricted, for example to the use of cyanophage viruses, also ofbacteria, such as actinomycetes and flexibacter, which affect the cellwall of the cyanobacterium, thus preventing photosynthesis, however, thesecondary effects of this method are unexplored yet. Using algae, fungiand protozoa also disrupts the overall biodiversity of waters and is noteffective—DE19731309 (A1).

Cavitation is also a well-known method of disposal of cyanobacteria fromthe bottom of reservoirs.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

These deficiencies are removed by a technical solution, the basis ofwhich is the combination of the method of disposal of cyanobacteria instagnant waters and the equipment for its implementation. The equipmentcomprises a float structure serving for keeping two types of electrodesunder water. The electrodes are placed in the water one above the otherand they are bipolar. The upper electrode is a system of anodes andcathodes, and the same applies for the lower electrode.

The lower electrode multiplies the effect of the electrolysis; therebycreating quatrolysis—in similar way like the grid of a vacuum tubeinfluences the current of electrons. Quatrolysis occurs between theelectrodes in a wide range around the float in distinct circles offorce, thereby multiplying the effect of electrovoltaic flotation on thedisposal of cyanobacteria. The circles of force create an environmentharmful for cyanobacteria by transferring the electrical charge into thewater.

At the bottom of the body of the equipment there are cascade stepsserving for capturing impurities, which are slowly settling in theequipment due to water flow. The accumulated sediment is then used asfood for animals and partly it is disintegrating at the bottom.

At the same time, the equipment for disposal of cyanobacteria comprisesfacilities for producing electric power, a rotary power source andphotovoltaic cells for powering the electrodes by direct electriccurrent via an alternator. It also includes a device for utilization ofwind power, which may be, for example, in the form of a wind propeller,of an engine, of an impeller or of an air turbine, and which drives arotating source of direct electrical current and of a blade wheel, alsoof a power blower, which drives the rotary source of direct electriccurrent, as well as a screw water pump, which accelerates the movementof water in the interior of the circular float and drives the rotarysource of direct electric current.

The quatrolytic method of the disposal of cyanobacteria is anelectrovoltaic electroflo-tation method with multiplying effect, i. e.it is water treatment based on acceleration of natural self-cleansingeffects of different electrical potentials in water combined withflotation, and thus carrying away cyanobacteria by bubbles of oxygen andhydrogen generated by electrolysis of water. Molecules of water aredecomposed; hydrogen is deposited at the cathode and oxygen at theanode. The bubbles of oxygen and of hydrogen, resulting from quatrolysisof water, also carry away, on the principle of electroflotation, thedestroyed cyanobacteria onto the water surface, where their naturalenvironment is changed and the cyanobacteria do not survive. Inaddition, during quatrolysis, waters contaminated with cyanobacteria,algae and bacteria, prevent in a wide range the intermembrane exchangeof nutrients for unicellular organisms and also increase the gas contentof the cyanobacteria, which brings them out onto the surface.

During quatrolysis, mineral salts dissolved in the natural water of alake are decomposed to positively charged metal ions—to cations ofcalcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, of heavy metals and of othermetals, and to acidic residues with a negative charge of chlorine,sulphur, phosphorus, partially of nitrogen, etc.—to anions. Water in thevicinity of the equipment, produced on the principle of the quatrolysisprocess, acquires new features, particularly if two special types ofelectrodes are used as outfit—a suspended electrode and a gridelectrode. Both types of produced water, i. e. alkaline and acidic, thusacquire totally different properties, which they are able to maintainfor some time, and which are unsuitable for the life of thecyanobacteria.

Cations and anions resulting from dissociation of molecules of a solublesubstance, nitrates and phosphates, are unsuitable for the life of thecyanobacteria. The two types of ions in an electric field between theelectrodes are subject to equal forces, they are moving and transferringthe electric charge also to the cyanobacteria and thus they areparalysing them. When transporting electric current by the electrolyte,all the ions of the lake water are participating as an electrolyte,therefore they are transferring a portion of the electric current in awide range and that is why this method is effective in the space outsidethe electrodes as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the cross-sectional view of the equipment for the disposalof cyanobacteria.

FIG. 2 shows the front view of the equipment for the disposal ofcyanobacteria.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The equipment for the disposal of cyanobacteria in stagnant waterscomprises the supporting float 5, in the form of a closed hollowcylinder, containing the transversely positioned rib 4. Mounted on it isthe device 9 for utilizing wind energy, which drives the water pump 2,placed in the delivery pipe 3 and the electric power supply—thealternator 10. The upper supporting part of the equipment—the upperfloat 7, copies the shape of the supporting float 5, it is made of adielectric, light, floating material and serves for anchoring the gridelectrode 6, as a system of radially distributed electrodes. Placed onthe upper float 7, there are the photovoltaic cells 8, interconnected tothe bipolar electrodes 1 and 6. The alternator 10. also supplies thebipolar electrodes 1 and 6 with direct current. Hanged on the rib 4,there is the suspended electrode 1, connected to the sources ofphotovoltaic cells 8 and alternator 10. The body of the supporting float5 of the equipment for the disposal of the cyanobacteria is a floatdevice, where at the bottom part there are the cascade steps serving forretaining the impurities slowly gathered by the water flow into theencircled interior of the supporting float 5, where they are settled.The accumulated sediment is then used as food for animals and partly itis disintegrating at the bottom. The body of the equipment is made ofplastic material so that it may be as light and as firm as possible, andat the same time may be able to float on the water. The electrodesforming the suspended electrode) are mutually interconnected and theyare powered by wind power via the supply source of electric current10—the alternator. In the vicinity of the supporting float 5, servingfor holding the two types of bipolar electrodes 1 and 6 under thesurface of water, quatrolysis of water is produced by mutual rotation ofthe electrodes 1 and 6 horizontally, in a wide range around thesupporting float 5, in distinct power circles; at this process oxygenand hydrogen bubbles arising due to quatrolysis of water carry away thedestroyed cyanobacteria, on the principle of electroflotation, onto thewater surface, where their natural environment is changed, as a resultof which the cyanobacteria do not survive. The disposal of thecyanobacteria is caused by cations and anions produced by dissociationof nitrate and phosphate molecules, inasmuch as both types of ions areunsuitable for the life of the cyanobacteria. When transportingelectrical power by the electrolyte, all ions of water-solublesubstances are participating in the process.

They are affected by equal forces in the electric field between thebipolar electrodes 1 and 6, they are moving and transferring theelectric charge also on the cyanobacteria and thus they are paralysingthem.

For circulation of water through the grid electrode 6, the screw waterpump 2 with holes in the delivery pipe 3 is used. The water pump 2 isconnected directly to the axis 9 of the equipment for utilization ofwind energy. The delivery pipe 3 is connected to the water pump 2 withholes and serves for directing the movement of water required for watercirculation. The outlet of the delivery tube (pipe) 3 is situateddirectly over the suspended electrode 1. As the result of pressure andmovement of water flowing out of the delivery pipe 3, the outgoing wateris flowing around the suspended electrode 1 and enhances its movementaround the bipolar electrodes 1 and 6. The bottom part of the supportingfloat 5 is a supporting component part and may have a diameter D=from 2to 15 m. It is actually a hollow disc made of plastic, metal and wood,having the width, for example from 600 to 700 mm and height of 500 mm.The grid electrode 6 comprises plates of sheet metal, which are situatedin the lower part of the supporting float 5. They are mounted in theupper float 7, distributed evenly around the entire perimeter andconnected to the photovoltaic cells 8 and alternator 10. respectively,and thus they serve as electrodes. They are placed so that they maycapture even very coarse impurities, which could damage the interior ofthe equipment for disposal of cyanobacteria. The upper float 7 servesfor fixing and interconnecting the modules of the photovoltaic cells 8.Electric power is supplied from the photovoltaic cells 8, interconnectedso that safe voltage up to 24 V may be generated between the bipolarelectrodes 1 and 6.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The method and the equipment for the disposal of cyanobacteria instagnant waters can be advantageously used for the disposal ofcyanobacteria in stagnant waters, which are intended for supplyingdrinking water or for swimming, fish farming and there where it isnecessary to ensure the quality of microlife in water and to reduce thedegree of water eutrophication.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An equipment for disposal of cyanobacteriain stagnant waters comprising: a hollow floating device having a topfloat connected to a low float; photovoltaic cells connected to the topfloat; bipolar electrodes distributed around a perimeter of the topfloat, the bipolar electrodes being located between the top float andthe low float, the bipolar electrodes being connected to thephotovoltaic cells and including metallic plates situated in the lowfloat; a rib positioned inside the hollow floating device and placedperpendicularly between the low float and the top float; an alternatorlocated on the upper side of the top float; a wind generation devicemounted on the upper float, the wind generation device being operativelyconnected to the alternator; a water pump having a first end connecteddirectly to the wind generation device; a perforated pipe having a firstend and an outlet end, the first end of the perforated pipe connected toa second end of the water pump; a suspended bipolar electrode locatedoutside the hollow floating device and connected to an outer side of thelow float, the suspended bipolar electrode being connected to thephotovoltaic cells and the alternator; and wherein the outlet end of theperforated pipe is positioned directly above the suspended bipolarelectrode; wherein the bipolar electrodes are located above thesuspended bipolar electrode; wherein the bipolar electrodes and thesuspended bipolar electrode rotate alternately to the left and to theright creating distinct circles of electrical charge; the water pumpcirculating water through the bipolar electrodes inside the hollowfloating device.
 2. The equipment in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe top float has a shape equal to a shape of the low float and is madeof a plastic material.
 3. The equipment according to claim 1, whereinthe wind generation device is a turbine, a propeller, or an engine. 4.An equipment for disposal of cyanobacteria in stagnant waterscomprising: a hollow floating device having a top float connected to alow float; photovoltaic cells connected to the top float ; bipolarelectrodes distributed around a perimeter of the top float, the bipolarelectrodes being connected to the photovoltaic cells and includingmetallic plates situated in the low float; a rib positioned inside thehollow floating device and placed perpendicularly between the low floatand the top float; an alternator located on the upper side of the topfloat; a wind generation device mounted on the upper float , the windgeneration device being operatively connected to the alternator; a waterpump having a first end connected directly to the wind generationdevice; a perforated pipe having a first end and an outlet end, thefirst end of the perforated pipe connected to a second end of the waterpump; a suspended bipolar electrode, the suspended bipolar electrodebeing connected to the photovoltaic cells and the alternator; andwherein the outlet end of the perforated pipe is positioned directlyabove the suspended bipolar electrode; wherein the bipolar electrodesare located above the suspended bipolar electrode; wherein the bipolarelectrodes and the suspended bipolar electrode rotate alternately to theleft and to the right creating distinct circles of electrical charge;the water pump circulating water through the bipolar electrodes insidethe hollow floating device; wherein a bottom side of the low floatincludes cascade steps.